By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS — A 63-year-old woman was tricked by a con artist into providing $900 via gift cards over the phone after the caller convinced her that she owed an outstanding debt.
The victim said she initially received a text, and when she called the phone number, a man with an accent answered and convinced her to work with him to resolve the debt. He told her to purchase a $500 Home Depot gift card and a $400 Apple gift card, then had her read off the gift card numbers. Once she did so, the caller disconnected the call and emptied both gift cards.
She said she had heard of scam of this type, but did not realize that she was being victimized at the time.